By Marcus Uhe
A 61-48 win over Olinda Ferny Creek in a physical grand final rematch on Saturday has reinforced Narre Warren’s premiership credentials in A grade netball.
But Erin Bell isn’t letting her squad look too far ahead, having not capitalised on their dominance last season by winning the one that really mattered.
The Magpies were competition pacesetters in 2022 but fell short to Olinda Ferny Creek on grand final day in frustrating circumstances.
Some shrewd coaching from Bell and her staff, and some new personnel, helped to extract some revenge on Saturday in another high-scoring performance from the Magpies.
“I think our start was a lot better (than in the grand final) and we made a lot of changes at half time and we had a few of our younger players have to step-up into A grade who I think made a real impact,” Bell said.
“Everyone out on court really took their opportunities.
“We played consistently and there weren’t many times where Olinda got three or four goals in a row, it was pretty consistent from us to be able to score from our turnovers and centre passes.”
The Magpies won every period of the game and kept their foot on the accelerator for the length of the battle, producing their highest scoring quarter of the game in the last term where they shot 19 goals.
A positional switch between captain Brittany Mashado and Abbey Barrientos at wing attack and centre was effective for the Magpies, while Lupe Fonua and Tamari Waqanisau successfully made the jump from the under 17 side into the top level, filling the breaches left in defence due to injury and player absences.
Of particular note in the Olinda Ferny Creek scoring region is Hayley Howard, the competition’s third-leading goal scorer behind Narre Warren’s Clare Vearing and Wandin’s Emmalia Blake, and her trusty sidekick at goal attack in Taylah Werner.
While Vearing is leading the attack at the other end of the court for Narre Warren, the ability for her defenders to turn defence into scoring opportunities is particularly pleasing.
“They (Fonua and Waqanisau) played together before in the under 17s and I think they just had that combination,” Bell explained.
“They took it in their stride and they weren’t overawed, they did their job and I think that really lifted all the other girls on-court as well.
“We had a big defensive focus on Thursday at training leading into the game, knowing how dominant Olinda is in that goal circle.
“It was about respecting them both and coming up with a game plan of being able to work our swaps and making sure that we weren’t just going to be doubling on Hayley (Howard).
“We wanted to give Taylah (Werner) the respect she deserves as well and make sure we cover both of them because they’re both very good.
“Our defenders work so hard to get those turnovers and we really have to make sure we treasure that and capitalise on it and make sure we score, that the turnover results in scoreboard pressure.“
Another test against Mt Evelyn awaits next week, who are within touching distance of the nominal ‘big three’ of the competition in Narre Warren, Beaconsfield and Wandin.
For Bell, her message to her squad is simple, as they ensure they remain present in the moment.
“Our focus is not on winning every game, last year we went through nearly undefeated,” she said.
“We aren’t focusing on that, we’re focusing on each and every game, respecting the opposition and then finishing top four.”
